David Fusitu'a
Auckland, New Zealand | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 189 cm (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Weight | 106 kg (16 st 10 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Position | Wing, Centre | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Source: [2] As of 31 December 2022 |
David Fusitu'a (born 16 October 1994) is a professional rugby league footballer who plays as a wing, centre and fullback for Leeds Rhinos in Super League and for both Tonga and New Zealand at international level.
Background
Fusitu'a was born in
Early years
Fusitu'a attended Kelston Boys' High School and played junior football for the Marist Saints.[3]
Playing career
Fusitu'a was signed by the New Zealand Warriors and played for the Junior Warriors in 2012 as a 17-year-old. In 2013 he played in the side that lost the Holden Cup Grand Final and also spent time with the Auckland Vulcans in the NSW Cup.[4] Fusitu'a played for New Zealand under-18s in 2011 and the Junior Kiwis in 2012 and 2013.[3][5] Fusitu'a was named in the train on squad for Tonga for the 2013 World Cup but was not selected in the final squad.[6]
2014
In February 2014, Fusitu'a was selected for the Warriors inaugural
2015
Fusitu’a played in 3 matches and scored 2 tries for the Warriors in an injury-riddled 2015 NRL season.[12]
2016
In February, Fusitu'a played for the Warriors in the
Fusitu’a finished the 2016 NRL season with him playing in 18 matches and scoring 11 tries for the Warriors. On 4 October 2016, Fusitu’a was selected in the New Zealand national rugby league team 24-man squad for the 2016 Four Nations.[17] On 6 October 2016, Fusitu'a extended his contract with the Warriors to the end of the 2019 season.[18] On 11 November 2016, Fusitu’a made his international debut for New Zealand against Scotland, playing on the wing and scoring 2 tries in the shock 18-18 all draw at Derwent Park.[19] On 20 November 2016, Fusitu’a would make his second appearance the Kiwis, playing in the 2016 Four Nations Final against Australia on the wing in the 34–8 loss at Anfield.[20][21]
2017
In Round 1, against the
2018
Following a breakout performance for Tonga in the World Cup, in 2018 Fusitu'a produced the finest NRL season of his career to date with the Warriors. He appeared in 23 games and scored 23 tries, (including two hat-tricks and five doubles), finishing as the NRL's top tryscorer for 2018.[26] The Warriors finished in the top 8 for the first time since 2011, with Fusitu'a scoring a try in their qualifying final loss to Penrith. In the annual NRL.com Player's Poll, he earnt 21% of the Best Winger votes, the second highest behind Josh Addo-Carr who polled 27%.[27] His meteoric rise was cemented in August when the Warriors signed him to a long-term deal, ensuring he would stay with the club until the end of 2023.[28]
He was named on the wing again for
2019 & 2020
In the 2019 NRL season, he made 16 appearances and scored five tries as the club missed out on the finals. In the 2020 NRL season, Fusitu'a was limited to only seven appearances as the New Zealand Warriors again missed out on the finals.[30]
2021
On 18 October, he signed a two-year deal with English side Leeds despite having two years remaining on his contract with the New Zealand Warriors.[31]
2022
In round 1 of the 2022 Super League season, he made his club debut for Leeds in their 22-20 loss against Warrington. Fusitu'a missed the clubs 2022 Super League Grand Final loss to St Helens due to injury.[32][33]
2023
In round 16 of the 2023 Super League season, Fusitu'a scored two tries as Leeds defeated Huddersfield 54-0.[34] He played a total of 17 games for Leeds in the 2023 Super League season and scored ten tries as the club finished 8th on the table and missed the playoffs.[35]
Achievements and accolades
Individual
- 2018: Ken Irvine Medal - Dally M Top Try Scorer(23)
References
- ^ Companies House
- ^ "David Fusitua - Career Stats & Summary". Rugby League Project. 16 October 1994. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ a b "David Fusitua". Archived from the original on 20 March 2014. Retrieved 15 March 2014.
- ^ "Lousi and Fusitua out for today's Vulcans' game". Voxy.co.nz. 27 July 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "NZ Residents 18s: Game Two". NZRL. Archived from the original on 15 March 2014.
- ^ "Rugby League World Cup 2013". Rlwc2013.com. Archived from the original on 27 September 2013. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Squads For Auckland Nines". Rugby League Week. 14 February 2014. Archived from the original on 15 January 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ David Long (27 January 2016). "Warriors' Eden Park hoodoo continues as Dragons win 31-12". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ Roy Ward (25 April 2014). "New Zealand Warriors sink Melbourne Storm before record crowd on Anzac Day". Smh.com.au. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "Kiwis Name Four Nations Train-On Squad". Rugby League Week. 9 September 2014. Archived from the original on 17 July 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "Warriors re-sign high-flying Fusitu'a". NRL.com. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "NRL: Fusitua adds to Warriors injury woes - Sport - NZ Herald News". Nzherald.co.nz. 21 July 2015. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ "Warriors name 2016 Nines squad". Rugby League Week. 29 January 2016. Archived from the original on 4 February 2016. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
- ^ AAP (16 April 2016). "Warriors hang on for gritty win - NRL". Wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Archived from the original on 21 June 2016. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Samoa holds on in pulsating Pacific Test". nrl.com. 7 May 2016. Retrieved 7 May 2016.
- ^ "Winger David Fusitua shines as Warriors thrash the disappointing Knights". Herald Sun. Retrieved 8 October 2016.
- ^ "Kiwis name squad for Four Nations". NewsHub. 4 October 2016. Archived from the original on 16 June 2018.
- ^ "New Kiwi David Fusitu'a re-signs with Warriors until 2019". 7 October 2016.
- ^ "'One of sport's greatest shocks'". News.com.au. 12 November 2016.
- ^ "Four Nations final: Australia hammer New Zealand 34-8". 20 November 2016.
- ^ "Four Nations Final: Kiwis player ratings". 20 November 2016.
- ^ Toohey, Barry (5 March 2017). "Warriors survive huge Knights scare". Daily Telegraph.
- ^ "Tonga names powerful squad, packed with ex-Kiwis". 5 October 2017.
- ^ "Bad blood boils over in war cry". News.com.au. 11 November 2017.
- ^ "Lebanon give Tonga huge fright in sensational quarter final as Mate Ma'a advance". 18 November 2017.
- ^ "All David Fusitu'a's 2018 tries". 18 December 2018.
- ^ "NRL.com Players' Poll: Part 2 - Best player, winger, centre, forwards". NRL. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 21 December 2021.
- ^ "Vodafone Warriors secure Fusitu'a until 2023". 9 August 2018.
- ^ "Kangaroos withstand spirited Tongan challenge". 20 October 2018.
- ^ "Warriors to make finals in 2021". www.nrl.com. December 2020.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos confirm signing of former Warriors winger David Fusitu'a". www.stuff.co.nz. 18 October 2021.
- ^ "LEEDS RHINOS 20 WARRINGTON WOLVES 22". www.therhinos.co.uk.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos news: Huge blow as TWO more players ruled out of Grand Final". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.
- ^ "Super League: Leeds Rhinos 54-0 Huddersfield Giants - Hosts pile misery on Ian Watson's side". BBC Sport.
- ^ "Leeds Rhinos' 2023 season review: picking out the best and worst players, performances, results". www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk.